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Foot shape and the breed of horse will determine
the type of deformity that causes a welfare issue.
Flat thoroughbred type feet will often splay and split
when left untrimmed allowing infections to enter the
hoof structure, some full depth cracks will cause
severe lameness and may take years to heal.
Upright feet tend to be stronger so maintain their
shape but the excessive untrimmed hoof causes
the toes to lift and the heels to roll under the foot
causing the Aladdin slipper shape of hoof.
Any equine suffering from or with a history of
laminitis that doesn’t have its feet managed
appropriately will suffer excessively as the
pressures put on the sensitive structures will be
increased as the hoof length grows and slows any
healing process. An equine with a medial lateral
imbalance in the hoof or limb (when the hoof
capsule on a particular limb has uneven heel
heights) left neglected will suffer. The imbalance
causes the hoof to grow following the direction of
the imbalance, often with the medial wall collapsing
under the hoof and across the sole covering the
frog. Any excessive overgrowth will affect the ability
of the horse to move effectively and without pain as
the hooves are the foundation of the skeleton.
Pathologies commonly affected
by
neglect:
laminitis
thrush
abscesses
tendon strain
ligament sprain
hoof cracks
prolapsed soles
contracted heels
growth plate abnormalities in the younger
neglected equine
It is certainly common that the neglected hoof
will never regenerate to its previous healthy state
leaving the animal with a lifelong need for very
specialist farriery care and reduced athletic abilities.
Longer term this will give it a lower financial value
and potentially reduce its overall lifespan.
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...Keep one step ahead
A hoof crack
spreading up towards the coronary band.
Typical laminitic stance
- leaning backwards to take as
much weight off the painful front feet as possible.